Coroners (literally 'protectors of the crown') used to have a wide range of public responsibilities on behalf of the King. Now, the coroner is (almost) solely involved in one thing: establishing cause of death.
In the UK, the coroner can currently be either a doctor or lawyer with at least five years senior experience. This will shortly be changed, and only lawyers will be entitled to apply. This is because the role is very much a legal, rather than a medical, position. The local authority (rather than the Home Office) appoints these individuals.
Deaths MUST be referred to the Coroner in the following circumstances:
Where the cause of death is unknown
Where the individual died without being seen by a doctor within 14 days prior to death
Where the cause of death was deemed unnatural (murder, suicide, industrial accident, car crash etc)
Where the final illness was not attended by a doctor
And in certain special circumstances (the person died in police custody or was collecting a war pension)
In these circumstances, the Coroner's Officer will be informed of the death (95% of the time by a doctor), and will decide whether a post-mortem examination (autopsy) is required. If this is deemed necessary, the Coroner will instruct a Forensic Pathologist to carry out the autopsy in order to:
Identify the individual (by tissue sample or dental records)
Ascertain where, when and how they died
Document findings and produce a report
The Coroner will then hold an inquest which will provide these details to the public.
Coroners are also responsible for deciding the beneficiaries of buried treasure!
Coroners almost always work for government on some level. Just about every level of jurisdiction has coroners working for them in some capacity.
starting out coroners only make 45,000 a year
morgue
coroners
Morgue.
In Canada coroners earn an average salary of $36,403 to $67,843 for an entry level position. However, after twenty years in the field many coroners earn over $100,000.
Jordan Bell
(in the US) Not all jurisdictions have Coroners Juries ore conduct inquests.
George Rogerson has written: 'A letter to the reform corporations on the necessity of electing medical coroners' -- subject(s): Coroners 'THE CIRCLE'
The sheriff
The state's coroners are members of the judicial branch. In each parish a coroner is elected for a term of four years. Coroners must generally be licensed doctors
Paul Matthews has written: 'Jervis on the office and duties of coroners' -- subject(s): Coroners 'Disclosure' -- subject(s): Discovery (Law)